[ OP-ED COLUMN ]

Crist Quiet on Re-Election Decision

Published: Sunday, August 4, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, August 3, 2013 at 11:32 p.m.

Florida's political world expects former Gov. Charlie Crist to challenge Gov. Rick Scott's re-election next year.

But no one seems to know exactly when Crist, a former Republican turned Democrat, will jump into the race.

If anyone had any inside knowledge it might be John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who happens to employ Crist and who is a prominent Democratic fundraiser. But Morgan, who was in Tallahassee this week promoting his constitutional initiative to legalize medical marijuana, did not offer a lot of clarity on the issue.

He said an announcement by Crist in September or October might be possible.

There seems to be a window of opportunity in October, when the Florida Democrats head toward a three-day party convention in Orlando on Oct. 25 through Oct. 27. If Crist joined the race, he could use the convention to begin to build his case among the party's most active members, who may be the most skeptical of his political conversion.

Crist's entry into the race in October would also give him three months to raise money before he has to file his first campaign report — where he will be measured against Scott, who is predicting he will have $25 million in the bank by the end of the year.

Of course, Crist can continue to delay his announcement. The advantage to that is that it also delays what is expected to be a brutal assault by the GOP on Crist's credibility as a candidate.

Crist is also waiting for a decision from Alex Sink, the former state Cabinet member who narrowly lost to Scott in 2010. Her decision is expected in the next few months.

Former state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, is already in the race and has made it clear she will contrast her record as a lifelong Democrat with Crist's shift from a "Reagan Republican" to a top ally of President Barack Obama.

Meanwhile, Morgan was much clearer in asserting Crist may be the Democrats' best chance to unseat Scott.

Morgan, who calls Nelson a good friend, with whom he regularly has dinner, said Nelson likes his job as Florida's senior U.S. senator, while his wife, Grace, likes Washington. He also said Nelson's age — 72 next year — might be a factor.

But he said Nelson would be a "very formidable candidate."

Morgan said the fact that Florida Republicans are already launching attacks on Crist — including a daily "Crist-ory" email that highlights Crist's past, including criticism from Democrats — is another sign of Crist's viability as a candidate.

"It makes it seem like they're worried," Morgan said. "I have got a thing in the Morgan household: Never let them see you sweat. Well, they're sweating all over the Internet. He's still a private citizen and they're falling apart. It's premature."

Morgan, who knows a few things about megadollar fundraising, also downplayed the possibility that Scott and his allies may have a campaign fund approaching $100 million next year.

"First of all, I believe that Charlie Crist has $50 million worth of name ID," Morgan said. "And I believe, in the state of Florida, Charlie Crist has $50 million in positive feelings from the people."

Morgan said the Florida governor's race will draw national support from Democrats as they see it as a chance to claim a governorship in the South as well as a state pivotal in presidential politics.

"I think you're going to see a lot of people from outside of Florida have a big interest," Morgan said. "Charlie Crist is also somebody who is going to be able to go to New York, Chicago, D.C. and California, and raise an unbelievable amount of money."

Those fundraising jaunts could also dovetail with the release of Crist's book — "The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat" — that is set to be released by Dutton early next year.

Morgan has been at Crist's side for many of the key events in the former governor's transition from the GOP to the Democratic Party. He was with him in Charlotte, N.C., when Crist gave a national convention speech in support of Barack Obama. He was with Crist at the White House when Crist announced his decision to join the Democratic Party.

Crist was also at Morgan's Central Florida home when the lawyer hosted a major fundraiser for Obama during last year's campaign.

Morgan said Obama "is very, very grateful" for what Crist did for him, not only campaigning vigorously in Florida but in other key states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania.

"Charlie Crist was huge for Barack Obama, and Barack Obama is loyal to his friends," Morgan said.

WINNER OF THE WEEK

Steve Crisafulli. The Republican lawmaker from Merritt Island has been tapped as the new House majority leader, a growing sign of his influence as he prepares to succeed House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, after the 2014 elections. Crisafulli was designated as the next House speaker after Rep. Chris Dorworth lost his re-election bid in November.

LOSER OF THE WEEK

Tony Bennett. Florida's education commissioner resigned following a controversy over school grades that stemmed from his former job as education commissioner in Indiana. It is also a loss for Gov. Rick Scott, who has had three education commissioners and two interim commissioners since he took office in 2011.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments," Gov. Rick Scott said about the civil rights leader who had compared Florida to an "apartheid state" and Selma, Ala.

<p>Florida's political world expects former Gov. Charlie Crist to challenge Gov. Rick Scott's re-election next year.</p><p>But no one seems to know exactly when Crist, a former Republican turned Democrat, will jump into the race.</p><p>If anyone had any inside knowledge it might be John Morgan, the Orlando trial lawyer who happens to employ Crist and who is a prominent Democratic fundraiser. But Morgan, who was in Tallahassee this week promoting his constitutional initiative to legalize medical marijuana, did not offer a lot of clarity on the issue.</p><p>He said an announcement by Crist in September or October might be possible.</p><p>There seems to be a window of opportunity in October, when the Florida Democrats head toward a three-day party convention in Orlando on Oct. 25 through Oct. 27. If Crist joined the race, he could use the convention to begin to build his case among the party's most active members, who may be the most skeptical of his political conversion.</p><p>Crist's entry into the race in October would also give him three months to raise money before he has to file his first campaign report — where he will be measured against Scott, who is predicting he will have $25 million in the bank by the end of the year.</p><p>Of course, Crist can continue to delay his announcement. The advantage to that is that it also delays what is expected to be a brutal assault by the GOP on Crist's credibility as a candidate.</p><p>Crist is also waiting for a decision from Alex Sink, the former state Cabinet member who narrowly lost to Scott in 2010. Her decision is expected in the next few months.</p><p>Former state Sen. Nan Rich, D-Weston, is already in the race and has made it clear she will contrast her record as a lifelong Democrat with Crist's shift from a "Reagan Republican" to a top ally of President Barack Obama.</p><p>Meanwhile, Morgan was much clearer in asserting Crist may be the Democrats' best chance to unseat Scott.</p><p>"I don't think other than Bill Nelson there's anybody else," Morgan said.</p><p>Morgan, who calls Nelson a good friend, with whom he regularly has dinner, said Nelson likes his job as Florida's senior U.S. senator, while his wife, Grace, likes Washington. He also said Nelson's age — 72 next year — might be a factor.</p><p>But he said Nelson would be a "very formidable candidate."</p><p>Morgan said the fact that Florida Republicans are already launching attacks on Crist — including a daily "Crist-ory" email that highlights Crist's past, including criticism from Democrats — is another sign of Crist's viability as a candidate.</p><p>"It makes it seem like they're worried," Morgan said. "I have got a thing in the Morgan household: Never let them see you sweat. Well, they're sweating all over the Internet. He's still a private citizen and they're falling apart. It's premature."</p><p>Morgan, who knows a few things about megadollar fundraising, also downplayed the possibility that Scott and his allies may have a campaign fund approaching $100 million next year.</p><p>"First of all, I believe that Charlie Crist has $50 million worth of name ID," Morgan said. "And I believe, in the state of Florida, Charlie Crist has $50 million in positive feelings from the people."</p><p>Morgan said the Florida governor's race will draw national support from Democrats as they see it as a chance to claim a governorship in the South as well as a state pivotal in presidential politics.</p><p>"I think you're going to see a lot of people from outside of Florida have a big interest," Morgan said. "Charlie Crist is also somebody who is going to be able to go to New York, Chicago, D.C. and California, and raise an unbelievable amount of money."</p><p>Those fundraising jaunts could also dovetail with the release of Crist's book — "The Party's Over: How the Extreme Right Hijacked the GOP and I Became a Democrat" — that is set to be released by Dutton early next year.</p><p>Morgan has been at Crist's side for many of the key events in the former governor's transition from the GOP to the Democratic Party. He was with him in Charlotte, N.C., when Crist gave a national convention speech in support of Barack Obama. He was with Crist at the White House when Crist announced his decision to join the Democratic Party.</p><p>Crist was also at Morgan's Central Florida home when the lawyer hosted a major fundraiser for Obama during last year's campaign.</p><p>Morgan said Obama "is very, very grateful" for what Crist did for him, not only campaigning vigorously in Florida but in other key states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania.</p><p>"Charlie Crist was huge for Barack Obama, and Barack Obama is loyal to his friends," Morgan said.</p><p>WINNER OF THE WEEK</p><p>Steve Crisafulli. The Republican lawmaker from Merritt Island has been tapped as the new House majority leader, a growing sign of his influence as he prepares to succeed House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, after the 2014 elections. Crisafulli was designated as the next House speaker after Rep. Chris Dorworth lost his re-election bid in November.</p><p>LOSER OF THE WEEK</p><p>Tony Bennett. Florida's education commissioner resigned following a controversy over school grades that stemmed from his former job as education commissioner in Indiana. It is also a loss for Gov. Rick Scott, who has had three education commissioners and two interim commissioners since he took office in 2011.</p><p>QUOTE OF THE WEEK</p><p>"Jesse Jackson owes every Floridian an apology for his reckless and divisive comments," Gov. Rick Scott said about the civil rights leader who had compared Florida to an "apartheid state" and Selma, Ala.</p>